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Saturday, March 12, 2011

To say that the music industry is fickle is probably a huge understatement. Careers are made, cashed in on, and thrown to the wayside faster than it takes a politician to forget his campaign promises. Truly impressive sustained careers in the music world are products of inspiration, perspiration, good luck, and numerous other factors. However, a band’s personal connection with its audience may be the secret to a legendary career. Looking back through the annals of rock and roll, all the legendary names seem to have the most ardently supportive fanbases. A band that can really draw its listener in, and create that tangible bond... a bond that almost seems personal is a rare thing. And to do that for decades is reserved for only the most venerated of performers.

To think that the surviving members of the Grateful Dead, now all in their 60’s and 70’s, are all still performing is clearly impressive. However, to consider that the music being created is still interesting, energetic, and fresh makes this feat even more unbelievable. Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann have explored somewhat divergent interests from the Dead’s M.O. with their Rhythm Devils and 7 Walkers projects and Phil and Bobby have reunited, with a top-notch outfit of band members, in Furthur. Although their repertoire is culled from Dead material; in the spirit of the Dead, Furthur has embraced their roots while putting their own stamp on an already astounding musical legacy. To witness Lesh and Weir, now elder statesmen of rock, still pumping their soul and sweat out on stage (and still delivering) is beyond impressive. For these reasons, I am glad to feature Furthur in this week’s pick.

Recorded at the 1st Bank Center, in Bloomfield, CO in March of 2010; fans of the 60’s psychedelic sound and set lists will definitely want to give this show a listen. The first set includes a number of “short” rockers from the 60’s era like “Next Time You See Me”, ”Till the Morning Comes”, and ”Cumberland Blues”. The band really opens up in the second set and breaks out the heavy artillery. The jams fluctuate between light and ethereal to deeply dark. For me, the standout tracks on the recording are undoubtedly the “Dark Star”>”Time”>”Dark Star”>”Morning Dew” cuts. Arguably, the musicianship is on par with anything being created in the “jam scene” today.